When Life Gives You the Avengers

A teenaged girl was always very fond of the Avengers. But when they and some other surprises come to her small town in Rural Michigan, her life changes. For good. How could this get any better?! Or could it get worse?

**Disclaimer:The author doesn't own any characters owned by the distinguished franchise(s) that do own characters. However, the original characters and story line do belong to the author. No money or profit will or is intended to be made on this story. Thank you.**

5. Confession Time

I nodded, and took off in a sashaying walk towards the door to the West Wing.

"Isn't there class going on still?" He asked a little choked.

"It's third hour. Don't you remember what goes on in your own old school?" I snapped.

"Riiiiggghhhhttttt.... West is closed. Always closed."

"No dip, Sherlock." I smirked.

He laughed. Actually laughed. I hadn't heard him laugh in seven years. I stopped suddenly and turned around incredibly fast, as if I were a blur (yeah, I've got speed as a power too). And I gaped fully at him. I was ready to drop dead.

"You're...smiling and...laughing..." I croaked out.

"I haven't done that in....I don't know how long..." He said contemplating it.

"Seven years and two months." I said immediately.

"How much do you remember?"

I started walking again, through the doors to the West Wing. And I stopped half way through the doorway. He stopped across from me.

I turned away from him, not sure of I could handle it.

He repeated himself, "How much do you remember?"

I pulled him through the doors and let them close behind us before I turned to talk to him.

And again, that stupid sentence came out of his mouth, "How much do you remember?"

"I remember everything."

And then I was in a bone crushing hug.

"I'm sorry for everything. I had to stop our friendship. Because I was beginning my hero escapades. Because I thought I'd get you injured...or worse, killed. And your dad talked to me... He told me everything and told me to leave you alone. He told me that I could get you hurt. And I didn't want to... I'm sorry, Abbie."

"No, that makes sense. It's fine. Thank you for owning up to it and letting me know. I forgive you. Now, what was this about you being, as Tony Freaking Stark--CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT YOU KNOW HIM?!--said "head over heals in love" with me?" I smirked.

He blushed. Blushed CRIMSON! And then said, "I have since the day I met you."

Great, so now not only did he love me, but he had for over twelve years.

"Clint...?"

"Yes?"

"I can't breathe..."

"Oh, ummm, sorry..." He said and released his tight hold on me.

"And... I really forgive you." I was avoiding the topic of love... I think he knew it too...

"Truly?"

"Truly."

He bent down, nose touching mine, our eyes were searching each others' for any sign of a lie.

A scent drifted to me. A scent I hated to even be near...

Then someone coughed. Clint swiftly threw on his mask again. And we looked around, not really surprised at all.

It was this one kid that was in every single one of my classes. He drives me bonkers! He's even gone as far as to be extremely forward with me by...touching and threatening me... But I always fight back and break something on him. He's also in my third hour. Mr. Topah wouldn't send him for me though, he knows the issues I have with him.

"Riley..." I gulped.

"Well, well, well... Sneaking off in school to snog with an Avenger? I'm not surprised. Would you two mind if I joined you?" Riley sneered with a malicious glint in his eyes.

"You may not join us, you sexist pig!" I snapped. "AND WE WERE JUST TALKING! Apparently, I have won a scholarship to work as a fully paid intern for Stark Enterprises. And when Hawkeye here asked for help finding the nearest private loo, I brought him here."

"Oh, darn. Well, what can I say? I should have expected something goody-two-shoesy from you, Abbie."

"Look here, Riley! If I were to even be the tiniest bit interested in what you have to say, I would be like all those bottle blonde bimbos that hang on to your every word. So, since I don't, get LOST!"

"Playing hard to get, are we?" He asked me with a creepy wink.

"Excuse me?! Playing hard to get?! You're clearly mistaken and you obviously need glasses in order to see that I am NOT. INTERESTED. IN. YOU!" I hissed angrily.

So, it was then that Clint decided to step in, "Excuse me, boy, but I need to get Miss Coulson back to her parents and the principals. So, when we get back, I'm going to let the principals know that one of their student a is skiving off their classes. If I were you, I'd get back to class now."

"Actually, my last name is Howard. It's Coulson HYPHEN Howard." I said in answer to the confused look on my peer's face.

Riley had paled significantly at Clint's words. And then with a last look at us, he ran back to third hour.

"Let's go, Hun." Clint murmured in my ear.

"Hun? When did we start dating then?!" I asked incredulously.

"Ohh... Right...." He said, rubbing the back of his neck, "Will you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?"

"Ohhh...ummm...."

He was looking down at me with those beautiful blue eyes of his, they were sparkling and I couldn't help it.... I was falling for him... All over again.

"Abbie? Abbie Bear?" He whispered, watching me closely.

I breathed in sharply. There was a new scent in the wing. One I hadn't smelled yet. Then there was a feral growl that was coming towards us. I sighed, was I ever going to be able to talk to him without an interruption?